Each week we publish blog posts on a whole range of topics, relating in some way to mental health — written by Mind staff, service users and health and policy professionals. Some blog posts may not reflect official Mind policy.
We welcome comments and questions on our posts, but have a few ground rules to keep the site welcoming and interesting to every body. The first rule is the most important: be respectful of other commenters and bloggers.
This is a guest video blog by Ed and Kate Rosie on how the creative arts have helped Kate Rosie cope with her depression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAqUIaBhhiY
Ed says: I wanted to create a film that was both moving and uplifting, whilst also confronting a complex subject that has affected me personally.
2 CommentsThis is a guest blog from Douglas Cairns, AKA Sid Ozalid, who talks about the road from punk poet to corporate high-flyer, his new book and how he learned to balance his mental health with a high-pressure job.
I fitted in very well at school until I had to learn something. Although having a vivid imagination my dyslexia went unnoticed in the school system of the late 1960s and early 1970s, resulting in me spending my time at the bottom of the class. My teachers thought I was ‘slow’ and were happy as long as I did not chat in class. I chatted in class! They were not happy.
This is a guest blog by Stuart Semple, Mind Ambassador and creator of Mindful – an exhibition and festival celebrating mental health and creativity in aid of the Mind creative therapies fund.
I believe firmly in the difference creativity can make anyone who experiences mental heath problems, so I’ve started working with Mind to make that a reality. This week I’m curating an exhibition at the Old Vic Tunnels and rallied the support of some pretty big name artists. We’ll have a private view (thanks to my friends at the Aloysius Society) and I hope we’ll sell as much art as possible and raise funds for these hugely beneficial creative therapies.
Over the years my art has been there for me at my lowest points and provided me with a powerful place for catharsis.
4 CommentsThis is a guest blog from Charlotte for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.I have spent a large part of my life thinking about killing myself.
I’ve thought about how to do it, when to do it, where to do it. I’ve thought about it as a teenager, a pregnant woman, a new mum, a student, a manager.
I’ve thought about it while I’m at work, while I’m on holiday, alone in the dead of night and during big social gatherings. It’s not something I often mention; it feels a little bit dangerous to write it down. So why am I breaking the silence somewhere as public as the Mind blog?
46 CommentsIn this guest blog, Lee describes his experience of being re-assessed for the new Employment and Support Allowance.
As part of the DWP’s attempt to migrate all those still receiving Incapacity Benefit on to their new system of Employment and Support Allowance, I was recently issued with a 20-page ‘Limited capability for work questionnaire’ – which I can only describe as an interrogation on paper.
How does this make me feel? Well, anyone with a mental health condition can probably guess; stressed, anxious, frustrated and resentful.
17 CommentsThis is a guest blog by Sharon Howard.
I have just completed my second week back at work after my latest BPD crisis. Making the step to return to work was a difficult one. I was terrified of not being able to cope; what people would think of me (many of the people I work with know why I was off, my BPD is 'out-of'-the-bag' so to speak) and just the whole process of working in general. But, I had to do it; I knew this since I first handed in my sick note in April.
48 CommentsGuest post from Jane on how online resources and community have helped her get a handle on her depression
Until I had depression, I didn’t understand what it was. If I said I was depressed, it was usually because of something inconsequential like staying late at work. That’s not being depressed, that’s being fed up – but it’s not being depressed.
Guest blog from John Binns, Partner at accounting and consultancy firm Deloitte. The post is part of our series on mental health at work.
I was pleased to speak at Mind’s business summit this Tuesday, which brought together a range of employers to explore the challenges and solutions to addressing mental heath in the workplace. I shared my personal experience as a partner in the leading professional services firm Deloitte.
In 2007, I experienced a period of significant depression. It meant me taking two months off work, and it changed forever how I and Deloitte see and respond to colleagues with mental health difficulties.
16 CommentsThis guest blog is part of a series on mental health at work; our Taking care of business campaign.
You’re not going to like my answer… ‘no’, not at the moment.
I’m writing under the pseudonym of Julie because I have (or had) a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (extreme worry) and depression.
3 CommentsThis guest blog from Bernadette is part of our series on mental health at work and Mind's Taking care of business campaign.
Coming from a family where both sides have experienced mental distress ranging from severe depression to dementia, psychosis and suicide. It could be argued that it was inevitable that I could succumb to some form of mental distress in my life. This is indeed what happened.
11 CommentsThis guest blog is part of our series on mental health at work for Mind's Taking care of business campaign.
Long before I even knew the name of the condition I was living with, I was acutely aware of how I just didn’t seem to ‘fit’ in the workplace.
During my working life I have tried everything from office desk jobs to working as a full time musician (and everything inbetween), which might seem quite random, but fits perfectly with my diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
37 CommentsThis guest blog is part of our series on mental health at work for Mind's Taking care of business campaign.
Teresa*, a communications specialist for a large retail organisation returned to work in February after a brief stay in hospital. Two days later, a colleague asked how she was feeling.
1 CommentThis guest blog is part of a series on mental health at work; our Taking care of business campaign
Firstly, I am writing this blog from my position as a person with bipolar disorder.
I was finally diagnosed in 2008, though I had exhibited symptoms since my early teens. Diagnosis was a relief – I had a name for my pain.
11 CommentsA guest post from Gemma Davies*, who talks about her experiences of mental distress and how she copes. Warning: This post discusses suicide and may be triggering for some people.
Last week I received a call from Mind asking if I would write this blog for Eating Disorders Awareness Week and to help promote their new report on men and mental health. At the age of 27 I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
2 Comments